41 – The Shoeshiner
November 8, 1914, Imperial Palace, Berlin, German Empire.
Lieutenant Runtstedt, who had been dispatched to Italy for a while, came to Berlin himself with an information report. Runtstedt reported that the situation in Rome was not progressing as smoothly as expected.
I casually asked while drinking coffee.
“Is there any obstacle?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Runtstedt pointed out the nationalist movement led by Paolo Boselli of the Italian Liberal Party as a stumbling block. Due to the nature of nationalism, its support base was very extensive, to the point where there were supporters even among the labor unions, which were the main supporters of the socialists.
In the previous chapter, the Italian royal family and the cabinet declared war on Germany and Austria against the backdrop of these voices. Considering that, it was risky to overlook and pass by the nationalist propaganda.
“But it’s not like Italy’s support is really urgent.”
After all, Italy approached us first, and it wasn’t something we had conceived on our side.
“The pro-Triple Entente individuals will continue to provide support, won’t they?”
“Of course, we are actively pursuing it.”
“What about the society that opposes the war?”
“We have made arrangements for them as well.”
“Well then, it’s simple. It would be good to provide funds to turn the gatherings of friendly negotiators into chaos.”
I proposed the idea of hiring a kind of political gangsters. Although it was not prevalent in this era, when the Communist Party began to seriously defend itself after the war, most European parties hired political gangsters to break up the opponent’s gatherings.
Even the German Social Democratic Party, which was considered the last bastion of German democracy, did not hesitate to engage in street fights with competitors like the Nazi Stormtroopers or the Communist Red Front Fighters League.
I suggested a way to deploy this “advanced culture” in Italy a little faster.
“If violence is exercised at the gatherings, won’t the collaborators we have carefully arranged become endangered?”
One could think that way.
However, this part needed to consider the thoughts of the Italian government. The current rulers of Rome wanted to gain advantages through deals with us, not with the Tripartite Negotiations. Would they dislike the destruction of nationalist gatherings?
“Exactly the opposite.”
I explained the reason as I put down my cup.
“We’re just scratching the parts they want to hide. If they don’t intend to side with the Tripartite Negotiations in this war, there’s no need to lift a finger for the nationalists.”
“But they could change their minds. The only ones who can oppose the nationalists are the socialists, so they could try to suppress us under the pretext of quelling the Reds’ riots.”
That could happen. But sacrifices always come with a fight. Besides, aren’t the words we put forward here not ours?
“That’s true.”
“It would be good to confuse the nationalist camp as well. Let’s insert voices that call for finding Suvoy and Nice, the birthplaces of the royal family, and changing the outcome.”
We didn’t necessarily have to handle all the enemies ourselves. If possible, it was much more efficient to employ a strategy that would divide the enemies and make them fight each other.
The Chinese traditionally divided their enemies and confronted them. That’s the saying “yi yi zhi yi” (以夷制夷).
“You were supporting them to move in the opposite direction, but are you suggesting that they join the nationalist camp?”
“Isn’t it true that if the voice becomes dispersed, the purpose becomes unclear and the momentum diminishes?”
Lieutenant Rundstedt nodded.
“Try making a sketch over there once. I’ll execute the funds through the same channel.”
“Understood.”
Lieutenant Rundstedt grabbed his briefcase and stood up from his seat.
After the staff left, I sat in the chair for a moment, lost in thought.
People like Paolo Boselli were undoubtedly giants whose names I had heard in the previous chapter.
But this time, even those I didn’t expect to hear their names came into my view.
“Benito Mussolini.”
From Noble mtl dot com
The father of fascist Italy, a member of the secret police. Mussolini’s Blackshirt Legion became a model for Hitler’s Stormtroopers, and the march he led in Rome became a model for Hitler’s ‘March on Berlin’.
He left a huge footprint in the history of the fascists.
“What should I do with him?”
If I were in a position to live in the reality zone of the 1910s, I would have gotten rid of Mussolini without hesitation. Because he would become the root of the subsequent fascist movement.
But as a “player,” my position was different.
Dangerous adventurers like Mussolini could be useful tools to me, who had to bring down Italy in the future. He could be a useful means in his mere existence.
So killing him was not the answer.
Considering the post-war situation, it was even more so.
“If the Italian royal family joins our side in the war and doesn’t receive their promised share, nationalist and war-hero types will surely rise up, just like in actual history.”
And if the Soviet Union is born, the Communist Party will actively intervene, causing a chaotic mess.
If I used that situation well, Mussolini, who advocated nationalism, had a good chance of seizing power.
“If that happens, his reign will serve me well.”
If that happens, we can attempt to intervene within Italy, using the turmoil within the ‘Allied Nations’ as an excuse.
If we give hints to the Italian king, royal officials, or members of the cabinet that they can seek refuge, everything can be easily resolved.
“Depending on how I think about it, I could also manipulate Austria into depleting their national power. It seems like a good plan for me. No, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.”
I erased my thoughts while drawing a picture.
Thinking about it now, it’s something that will happen in the distant future.
The war is still far from over.
But I was definitely convinced that Mussolini would have some value.
“Come to think of it, I wonder where Hitler is wandering around.”
I was curious about it in the previous episode, so I looked up where Hitler served. At that time, I found out that he served in the Bavarian 16th Reserve Division.
But since everything has changed in this episode, I wasn’t sure if Hitler would be there.
“What’s certain is that the chances of him being alive are higher.”
In this war, the main German forces are deployed on the Eastern Front, so there is a high probability that they are fighting in the East where the mortality rate is lower.
“First, I need to find out.”
I called the War Department and instructed them to bring me the service records of Adolf Hitler, who is of Austrian nationality.
In fact, if the German Empire wins, there was a high possibility that Hitler would end up as a lowly private with almost no chance of challenging my power.
That’s why my interest in Hitler was nothing more than curiosity. Hitler had almost no value to be exploited like Mussolini.
“But you never know what will happen in this world.”
I raised my cup while sinking into the chair.
*
Milan, Lombardy, Kingdom of Italy.
After Mussolini actively advocated for a war against Germany and Austria, the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) dismissed him from his position as the editor-in-chief of Avanti!.
The newly appointed editor-in-chief of Avanti!, Giacinto Menotti Serati, took aggressive actions to crush Mussolini and his founded Italian People through the newspaper. They depicted Mussolini as a treacherous socialist betrayer, Judas, while condemning those who supported the war as mad imperialistic dogs. Despite being the target of Avanti!’s attacks, Mussolini did not simply sit back and accept it.
Mussolini also labeled those who did not participate in the nationalistic cause of Italy as traitors through mass rallies, dismissing their orthodox socialism as outdated concepts.
“The outdated solidarity that does not suit the era of the survival of the fittest is being proven by the great powers participating in the war! Where does this so-called international solidarity that socialists shout about even exist in reality?
We have no time to listen to the nonsense of these foolish idealists! We lack time to advance in order to reclaim the rightful territories of the kingdom!”
In the midst of the fierce confrontation between the two sides, agents with instructions from Berlin intervened. German agents disguised as socialists raised their voices, suggesting the need for an active response from the side of the Italian Socialist Party.
“Exactly! After these warmongers hold a rally, they start throwing bricks at our party and newspaper. We have no reason to stay silent! Let’s also establish an action organization.”
“That’s right!”
Despite this, some members of the Socialist Party quickly sided with this opinion, as they were already influenced by Mussolini’s cunning attacks. The agents provided funds to the party to enable them to confront the “external enemies,” and party members began to reorganize existing labor organizations into powerful mass organizations with the money.
“If they want bloodshed, then we are prepared to do the same. Are you also ready to sacrifice your lives for the Italian nation?”
As the Socialist Party began to establish mass organizations, Mussolini also started organizing his supporters. The conditions were ripe for organization, especially with the financial support from France.
Of course, Mussolini had no intention of creating a real violent organization or engaging in bloody struggles with his former comrades. He simply wanted to strengthen the antagonistic symbiotic relationship with the Socialist Party and solidify his support base.
Anyway, as both sides rapidly began organizing their supporters, there was a subtle tension in the air. Just as a tightly pulled thread would snap with a slight touch, the Milan of today was on the verge of exploding with just a small spark.
“With this, the preparations are complete.”
Setting the fire did not require complex calculations or conspiracies. Luntstett, disguised as a capitalist supporting the nationalist camp, sent sponsorship money to the opportunists who sided with Mussolini, asking them to overturn the Socialist Party’s rally site.
The effect was immediate.
“Crazy gangsters! Now they’re even interfering with our rallies?”
The Socialist Party was not without strength, and they also had the organizational power to oppose them. They began to arm themselves and started attacking Mussolini’s rallies in the same way.
“Destroy them all!”
“These damn commies!”
Once a fight like this started, it would escalate and never end until blood washed away fatigue. It wasn’t long before blood-soaked logs appeared and Molotov cocktails started flying.
“Kill those bastards!”
In less than two days, both sides had turned the streets of Milan into a chaotic battleground of blood and flames. Socialist groups, united by a strong sense of solidarity, formed thousands of combat organizations and swept through the streets, while the nationalist camp also formed a formidable force to counter them. Controlling them with the police force was virtually impossible.
As the situation worsened, the Italian government wasted no time in deploying the National Guard. The National Guard promptly arrested anyone who stood out as ordered. It goes without saying that those who opposed the government’s policies, particularly the nationalists, were the first to be targeted.
With things turning out this way, Mussolini began to feel that something was wrong.
“Things have spiraled out of control. We were just trying to exert pressure on the government to reflect our demands, so how did it end up like this? Where did we go wrong?”
“Comrade, since the situation is not favorable, it would be better to hide for a while.”
“But if we retreat here, what will become of our cause for Italy?”
“Just wait. Just wait and lower your head. If we avoid the falling rain, we will have a chance to come out from under the umbrella again.”
“…”
Mussolini hesitated for a moment about leaving the crowd behind and running away, but there was no choice. With the help of his supporters, he quickly hid himself. When the nationalists were crushed and shattered, the blades of the National Guard fell equally on the socialists.
“Damn Roman bastards.”
The socialists, who had suffered one-sided damage, hid themselves underwater, realizing that they had become the targets of oppression.
As both sides were seemingly destroyed on the surface, the government seized the opportunity to control the speakers as they pleased.
“The publication of articles or speeches supporting the rioting commies or the outdated right-wing factions is strictly prohibited. Their claims only exacerbate social conflict and do not contribute to the order and stability of the kingdom.”
The kingdom’s government silenced both sides and amplified the voice representing the government’s position. Stories that were difficult to find in the past, favoring the Triple Alliance, began to appear in the newspaper.
“France stabbed us in the back in the Italian unification war, but Prussia upheld loyalty and helped us recover our territory. Considering historical precedents, isn’t Berlin more trustworthy than Paris?”
“The issue of Savoy and Nice, the birthplace of the royal family, is more urgent than the territorial conflict with Austria. We need to choose our side wisely if we want to reclaim the land given to us by the treacherous Napoleon III.”
Chapter 3 – The Flames of Milan ＜＞
“In the colonial competition, France is our main competitor. On the other hand, Austria has proven that they can return land through diplomatic negotiations during the Boer War. If territorial issues arise, we can resolve them diplomatically with Austria. However, France is a country that will never negotiate.”
Regarding this phenomenon, neutral politicians like Giovanni Giolitti expressed doubts in the parliament, but the cabinet drew a line, saying it was unrelated to the war effort.
“Our government maintains its position of interpreting the Triple Alliance as a defense alliance rather than an offensive one. As long as nothing extraordinary happens, Rome will adhere to strict neutrality.”
Mussolini read the newspaper, which his supporters had brought to his hiding place, and discerned the true intentions of the Italian government.
“You must be thinking of siding with the Triple Alliance, not neutrality. Despicable trash. They’ve completely abandoned their dignity.”
Mussolini was enraged that the government was once again humbly returning to the fold of the Triple Alliance, licking the boots of Berlin and Vienna.
Even if they groveled like that and managed to obtain something, Italy would never receive proper spoils befitting its status.
At best, they would be left with a few scraps thrown away by Berlin and Vienna, as if they were throwing away their goodwill.
“So, is that how our Italy will stand alone as a great power?”
Italy, the legitimate successor to the great Roman Empire, should not become such a laughingstock.
Mussolini stared at the newspaper for a long time before crumpling up the article.